THE ELECTRICAL HEADWORKS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 223, 26 January 1911, Page 3

THE ELECTRICAL HEADWORKS

MR. CLIMIES REPORT. At a meeting of the New Plymouth i Borough Council held at the Council [ Chambers on Tuesday night there were present: His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch), Councillors Browne, Gilbert, Mannix, Clarke, Wilson, Watkins ana West. The principal question before the meeting was consideration of a report and plans from Mr. 11. W. Climie with reference to the electric light extensions. Under date January 19, Mr. Climie wrote as follows: "By this mail I am forwarding you five copies of the plans and specifications for the above, whioh I trust will meet with your council's approval. There are two points, however, which I wish to draw attention to. The first is in regard to using one i of the present 21in. penstock pipes as a scour pipe.

Upon considering this question l*saw that it would be unwise to use this pipe in its present position to scour the silts from the forebay into the tail race. Uutimately this tail race will be so altered that there will not be the loss of head as at present, consequently the water will be practically dead in the tail race, and there will not be any.force to scour the silt from the turbine pit into the river. As in any case the pipes will have to be lifted and laid on a steeper grade for the first six chains, I concluded it would be economy to have the scour pipe discharging into the gully to the west of the forebay, where the present small scour pipe discharges, ll you have not already an easement over this part of the ground one will be required for this purpose.

"I would like to remark here that 1 am still of opinion that the improvements to your power should start at the tail race, at least so to alter it that the outlet should be larger than at present, which is only a two-foot diameter pipe; especially as the new penstock pipe it is proposed to lay is large enough to take practically all the water in the river, and to say the very least it is bad engineering to attempt to force all this water through the thirty feet of 2ft. pipe at present in the tail race.

"The second point I wish to draw your attention to is the matter of tht grating or screen.

"To fix this grating with the raking gear on tlie tunnel side of the present ■forebay so that the whole of the water would pass through it, as at first proposed, would cost considerably mort than the arrangement I have planned, owing to the great difficulty of carrying out the work without interfering with the running of your machines. I conclude that it will be the cheapest and best to get this new penstock working, and then to fix a similar cleaning device over the present grating. By expending another thirty pounds the cleaning rakes can be motor-driven.

"My estimate for doing the whole of the work us planned and specified with an ample allowance for contingencies is under £450."

Mr. Climie attended personally.

Tlie Mayor said the chairman of the Electric Light Committee and the electrical engineer did not think the plans would "fit the bill." They . had expected to see a fairly large chamber, 1 but according to the plans submitted it would be very small indeed, and would probably have'to be altered in a very short time. They had considered it advisable that Mr. Climie should meet the council to discuss the whole question, because there were one or two other matters on which there was a diversity of opinion. He had accordingly communicated with Mr. Climie asking him to attend the meeting. The proceedings were taken in committee, and on resuming In open council it was resolved that the matter be referred back to Mr. Climie to consult with the borough electrical engineer and submit a rough sketch of an enlarged, scheme which would suit the require-' ments of the department when, as is contemplated, the whole of the water in the river is passed through the tunnel.